The crisis in Mozambique may seem small and of no consequence to our country and the region, but this is a mountain to climb. Taking a leaf from the Nigerian security situation, the security issues in Mozambique should be addressed as quickly as possible because it has a great potential to go out of hand.
The Islamists have attacked the northern town of Palma in the Diego Delgado Province of Mozambique. There are several dynamics to the Mozambique problem and the solutions are equally as diverse as the existing problems. The biggest underlying issue in regard to this conflict is religion. The province is predominantly Muslim.
The region is more than a thousand kilometres from the capital Maputo and the citizens of the province have for a long time been decrying the neglect in development by the central government. They have accused the Maputo administration of isolating themselves in the deep south while neglecting Cabo Delgado in the north. This is an unreasonable accusation because this is a decision taken during the colonial rule of the Portuguese.
However, the central government has for the last two decades since the end of the civil war, ignored the plea for equity in development sharing. The Islamists are now wedging themselves in the already existing dissatisfaction. To many of us it may just look like the problem erupted over night. But this has come a long way.
We are told that the insurrection in Mozambique has close links with ISIS, a worldwide terror organization. ISIS and Al Qaeda both form a network of networks and they often exercise patience in planning and executing their operations across the world. Their primary objective is to subdue the world under one religion, Islam. Their long term planning is evident in their execution. Both in Syria, Iraq and now Mozambique, they have displayed what was known in Hitler’s Germany as blitzkrieg. It is what the Americans call it shock and awe.
Talking of timing, some conspiracy theorists are beginning to link the launch of the Islamist operations in Mozambique with a Muslim ascending to the presidency in neighbouring Tanzania. That may be a factor that emboldened them to strike after a long process of planning and preparation. One thing we all need to understand is that terrorists don’t just decide to strike without getting the most appropriate timing.
Nigeria is a typical example of a state gone wrong in as far as terrorism is concerned. Right now two thirds of the country is under threat from terrorists and other insurgent groups that have resorted to kidnaping for ransom. We may despise the military in Mozambique for not crushing the terrorists. But Nigeria with its size of the military and firepower is continuously failing at arresting this problem.
Botswana still depends on Nigeria for military education. The Nigerian military boasts of one of the best War Colleges in the world. This is a country that has in the past made a significant donation to BDF at its early stages. The Nigerian military sent in hundreds of Smirnoff rifles to be used in defeating the intruders who were the white minority government soldiers of South Africa and Rhodesia.
As a country, Nigeria has in the past helped many African countries militarily especially when it comes to liberation movements. Over and above this country has become a real force to reckon in the regional body known as ECOWAS. In fact this body would remain the weakest in the absence of Nigeria. ECOMOG which is a military wing of ECOWAS has been set up by Nigeria and has been in the lead all along.
Right now two thirds of the country remain under threat and a state of emergency has been declared this week across Nigeria because of security concerns. The country now lives in the shadow of the terrorist group of Boko Haram and its affiliates. Nigeria has allowed this form of terror to grow and a lot of this fomented over the years because of corruption. The same country had earlier in the 1960s overcome a more serious threat of the Biafra separatist movement. The Biafra War was more challenging and yet the Nigerian military prevailed.
Botswana should with all confidence participate in the Mozambican conflict without fear but with favour. The favour falls on us as a nation in regard to our participation in such an undefined conflict. The fact of the matter is that this kind of threat will ultimately arrive at our door step.
This is not conventional war and the tendency of the terrorists is to instil fear and terror. Whether we participate in Mozambique or not, this form of threat is certainly coming to our shores and so we better deal with it now. In fact the terrorists
are already achieving their intended goals as some in this country are already fearing the repercussions of our participation. This divided opinion is what the terrorists are wishing to achieve.
Some have sighted the Kenya situation as a good example that should deter us from participating in Mozambique. After Kenya went to participate in Somalia acting against Al Shabab, there was a price to pay. There was a terror strike in a Nairobi upmarket shopping mall. Many lives were lost. We need counselling as a nation to know that there is going to be a price to pay and this may come in the form of loosing lives.
Botswana’s participation comes at a time when the country has recently set up an anti-terror unit within the national intelligence organ. This security branch came through the influence of the US government. For some time there was a gap with Botswana not being part of the intelligence worldwide network against terrorism.
The country has one of the finest soldiers when taking into account their level of training. Our Special Forces are rated the finest in the continent. We have one of the finest tactical airlift capability only second to South Africa in this part of the continent. However, this should not fool us to think that we will simply triumph. America will be leaving Afghanistan after a long haul taking twenty full years with all their military might.